Dozen Gun-Toters Spotted at Obama Event

Man brings assault rifle, pistol to health-care rally

(NEWSER) - President Obama's appearance at a VFW convention in Phoenix today was marked by yet another appearance of a man with a gun, the Arizona Republic reports. As separate crowds of protesters for and against health care reform rallied outside the Phoenix convention center, a man with an AR-15 rifle and pistol on his hip could be seen milling about with the pro-reform demonstrators. Asked why he was armed, the man responded: “Because I can do it. In Arizona, I still have some freedoms." More»

Image was posted on policeman's Facebook page

(NEWSER) - The Secret Service is investigating an online image of Arizona men showing off an Obama T-shirt full of bullet holes, it said yesterday. The seven young men in the picture are holding guns as one displays a T-shirt bearing President Obama's face and the word "hope." The image appeared on an Arizona police officer's Facebook page last week; the picture was taken down yesterday, the New York Times reports. "We’re aware of it, and we’re conducting the appropriate follow-up steps," says a Secret Service rep. More»

FreedomWorks president attributed 1.5M turnout to network

(NEWSER) - The organizer of the "Tea Party" protest in Washington yesterday falsely attributed a high estimate of the turnout to ABC News, the network reports. Matt Kibbe, the head of FreedomWorks, said on stage that ABC estimated the turnout at 1 million to 1.5 million people. In a correction, ABC states that it reported the DC fire department's estimate of 60,000 to 70,000 people. More»

(AP) - John McCain met with an angry crowd at a town hall meeting about health care reform yesterday, sometimes having to fight to talk and telling one woman who wouldn't stop shouting that she had to leave. The senator hadn't yet opened the meeting to questions when one audience member continuously yelled over him. McCain had security escort her out, saying, "Goodbye, see ya." More»

(NEWSER) - Town hall crazies, you have met your match. Rep. Barney Frank had no time for a woman who asked why he supported Barack Obama's "Nazi" policies, calling it "vile, contemptible nonsense" and asking, "On what planet do you spend most of your time?" When the questioner pushed back, the House Financial Services Committee chair dismissed her: "Trying to have a conversation with you would be like arguing with a dining room table." More»